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Blog Details for "BeckerBlog"
BeckerBlogBeckerBlogBlog of Becker Drane, main character of The Seems book series featuring the adventures of a Fixer and his desperate Mission to save The World. Articles
Rainy Day Tuesdays
2007-11-06 16:22:00 Writing this one via the mini-keyboard on my Blinker while trying (and failing) to stay awake in the back of Friedank's science class. One of these days teachers will realize that the secret to lighting a fire in your students imaginations is probably not to drone on about mitosis, photosynthesis, and whocareswhatsis for forty-five consecutive minutes, the only sounds interrupting the white noise of your voice being the scratching of chalk against blackboard and the unbearably peppy answers given by Nanda and Zanick, the only two kids in the class who are 1) conscious and 2) have any idea what you're talking about. I know this sounds like an angry way to start a day, but anger is your friend when the only alternative is to stretch out on the floor and close your eyes and grab some Z's. The reason I'm so tired (and therefore so angry) is that Benjamin woke me up at 5:30 AM this morning because he wanted to play some two-player JD and finally complete the game and when I refuse...
Fixer's Jukebox
2007-11-02 23:45:00 So a bunch of people from John F. Kennedy Middle School in Plainfield, IL let me know in no uncertain terms that there was a decided lack of both metal and hip hop playing on the Fixer's Jukebox (which if you don't know, can only be heard in the Fixer's Lounge section of this website) and I have to admit, there is merit to this complaint. However, I want to make it abundantly clear that this is not a matter of taste, because as far as I'm concerned, good music is good music, regardless of genre. No, the dearth of Outkast or 8 Ball & MJG or System of the Down (or old Liz Phair/new American Analogue Set, for that matter) on this site is strictly due to interference from the powers that be (as opposed to The Powers That Be, who are way too busy to care what music we're playing)...i.e. my Mom and Dad...who are a little bit oppressive when it comes to monitoring the music I listen to, especially when it comes to certain lyrics which they deem "inappropriate." So even though I...
The World Series
2007-10-29 06:21:00 Congratulations to the New England branch of the Drane family for the Red Sox winning the whole thing again. Growing up a Mets fan, I've always rooted for them strictly because the enemy of my enemy (The Yanks) is my friend. But the series itself (not to mention the whole post-season) was totally lame, and it definitely hurt to watch the Sox celebrate after my own team imploded. And now that both the Jets and Rutgers football are imploding as well, there's really nothing to look forward to in these parts except for Rutgers women's basketball and the boys from HPHS. Go Owls... P.S. One more thing I wanted to mention to the New England Dranes, particularly my cousin Michael: No matter how many games and Super Bowls they win, The Patriots are cheaters. And they always will be... More About: World , Series , The World , World Series , Serie
The Glitch in Sleep: postscript
2007-10-28 21:25:00 So you?re probably wondering why it?s been like two weeks since my last blog on this blog. The truth is that ever since I finished my first Mission as a Fixer, I?ve just been way too tired to do anything but eat, go to school, do my homework, and sleep. I take a lot of satisfaction in the last item on that list, because for couple of hours last Wed night/early Thursday morning, it looked like Sleep itself was toast. But with a little L.U.C.K. and a lot of help from Briefer Simly Frye and Fixer Casey Lake, we managed to fix The Glitch in Sleep before it destroyed The World. I know that sounds kind of ridiculous but if you think back to that night, and how hard it was for you (and everyone else) to sleep that night, you?ll know it?s true. Anyhow, I?m not really Cleared to talk about too many of the details of the Mission, so you?re probably gonna have to read the book if you want to know what happened. But just in case you already know the story, I thought I?d catch you up on a... More About: The G
Missions in Progress II
2007-10-17 22:54:00 STILL no incoming calls. More About: Missions , Progress , Missi
Babysitting 101
2007-10-17 14:24:00 Family you can?t choose. Marriage takes a lot of work. And friends come and go. But having the right babysitter is . In Highland Park there are like 20 ?A-List? babysitters, but #1 is a girl named Samantha Mitchell. She is seriously pretty ? I know that?s shallow, but these are the times we live in. She ALSO has a good personality, though. Because lots of times your parents come home late and if your stuck with the babysitter and you can?t relate to her, then what good are her good looks? And lastly (and perhaps most importantly), she is good at homework. Because an A-List babysitter will do your homework for you (at least 90% of it), if you play your cards right. Sam Mitchell fulfills all three main criteria AND despite being the most sought after babysitter in Highland Park (she charges a full $2 more per hour than Beth Altman, the #2 best babysitter!), she is very down to earth. Sometimes, when a babysitter becomes popular with the parents , they get a big head and thin... More About: Babysitting
Juvenile Delinquent
2007-10-16 23:56:00 People say that video games affect kids like us adversely, but I disagree. Video games let us act out our fantasies in a safe space ? kind of like the Mission Simulators at the IFR. Which is why it?s important to have a ?supplier.? I would never do anything illegal because that could cost me my Badge and my freedom in The World, but there is a kid in HP named Kyle Fox who gets all kinds of underground video games (for many different platforms) before they actually come out, and he scored me and my brother Benjamin this new game called "Juvenile Deli nquent." It?s very cool cause you get to act out being a delinquent, while being pursued by parents, police, and truant officers. There?s even a part when you get sent to the school psychologist and have to talk about your ?problems.? Anyway, I had to trade him my gift certificate to the Corner Confectionary for it, but it?s so worth it. My avatar is named Quentin (he wears a ski hat, Megadeth T-shirt, spiked wristbands, etc?) and ba...
Radio Paradise
2007-10-15 05:35:00 Forget about all the other Internet radio stations I mentioned, because there's one that just blows the others all away. Well, don't totally forget them, because they're pretty cool, too...it's just one station I found has been on a hot streak for about three weeks now, and if I were still downloading music illegally (not that I ever did that, it's wrong), I would be grabbing just about every song I've heard, be it old or new, a classic or something I never heard of before. It's called Radio Paradise (you can find it on the "Eclectic" section of I-Tune) and it's perfect for homework or avoiding homework or doing just about anything at all. You can also find it here: www.radioparadise.com Hope you enjoy, and have a great week. But keep your 7th Senses tuned...I have a funny feeling my big day (or night) might be coming soon. More About: Adio
I Am The Cheese (redux)
2007-10-13 17:24:00 Thanks to JakeJ98 of Seattle, WA for turning me onto the MonkeyNotes entry on "Cheese ." Yeah, I know it's wrong to read chapter summaries and critical analysis instead of the book itself, but most other kids my age don't have to study the Fixer's Manual every day so they won't blow a Gasket or pop a Wind Bag and accidentally lay waste to a good portion of The World, so sue me. Anyhow, if you're like me and up the creek on this somewhat structurally challenging novel, feel free to join me at: http://www.pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monke ynotes/pmCheese01.asp Now if I can just get myself to read the MonkeyNotes.
I Am The Cheese
2007-10-13 04:00:00 Does anybody out there have the Cliffs Notes for a book called "I Am The Cheese ." It's written by the same guy who wrote "The Chocolate War," which I loved, but when I started skimming through this one, I don't know, it seems like it's headed to a pretty dark place. And the fact that it was published in the seventies, when the Not-So-Great Depression was bringing down everyone in the World and sending them into way too much therapy, screams "bummer ending" all the way -- something I don't feel like dealing with, considering I could get my Call any minute now. The only problem is, Kole is gonna have a coniption if I tank another quiz (not to mention my Mom). I even tried to Netflix the movie version, which supposedly stars the only kid from E.T. that didn't become famous, but there's like only one copy in existence, and I keep getting "Long Wait" under the availability column. Any help would be greatly appreciated...
Blogging
2007-10-06 05:42:00 Sometimes blogging sucks. Not that I?m complaining or anything, because nobody?s twisting my arm to do this and I could bail any time I want. It?s just, the pressure of having to come up with something interesting to say each time occasionally starts to take all the fun out of things. On a good day, after you?ve written one you're happy with, it feels great, and you kind of ride that vibe for all of the next day. Especially when you imagine somebody might actually read it and laugh at what you thought was funny and agree with what you thought was cool. But then tomorrow comes around and you get this anxious feeling in your stomach like you're running out time to come up with a good idea for the next installment. You start bouncing around ideas in your head, but they all seem lame (especially when all that?s bouncing around in your head right now are thoughts about your first Mission, which you know for a fact everyone is totally sick of hearing about (according to Googl... More About: Blogging
Door Jams
2007-10-04 02:19:00 Got a nice respite from both my Mets depression and stressing about my first Mission when I took a quick Leap out to the West Coast this morning. Not for a Mission, per se, but when I saw on my Blinker's bulletin board that the Dept. of Transportation was looking for volunteers to do some routine Door inspections, I jumped at the chance, just to keep my mind off things. To be honest, it's a pretty lame gig, and usually handled by whatever Briefer lives in that neck of the woods, but it turned out to be just what the doctor ordered. All I had to do was make sure that the Doors in Northern California were locked and operational, because Transpo (not to mention the Powers That Be) is anxioius to avoid another San Jose incident (let's just say the Door at the Graystone Elementary school was phased out ever since it was accidentally left ajar by a certain Quality Control team who shall not be named and opened by a certain librarian who shall not be named, either). I spot checked ... More About: Jams
Short on L.U.C.K.
2007-10-01 15:49:00 So I want to thank Mick, my favorite Agent of L.U.C.K., for demonstrating such integrity by not showering the New York Mets with a single shred of his precious substance yesterday -- despite the fact that certain parties made certain requests to just "help us get out of the first inning." After that, it would've been up to the team to make their own luck, so to speak -- but no, Mick did the right thing by staying out of it. Once you start making side deals or playing favorites, then the whole Agency risks becoming as corrupt and dysfuntional as the U.S. governent. Mick's sense of honor and duty is an inspiration to all of us in The Seems... Just don't expect to be invited to the Christmas party this year, dude. More About: Short
It's come to this...
2007-09-28 11:43:00 For the fourth consecutive night, have woken up at exactly 4:18 AM. Maybe it's because Fixer #35 (aka Flower) got called in Monday morning to take care of a Blip in Miscellaneous (I hope I get something that easy), which means Fixer #36 (aka No Hands Phil) is up next on the Rotation, and then me. Or maybe it's because the Mets are toast. Might even be because I still haven't made a dent in "The Red Pony," and Kole is going to kill me. Regardless, it's gotten so bad that I can't even lose myself in "Ultima" or "Juvenile Delinquent" anymore. It's gotten so bad, that I had to turn to this... http://www.thepcmanwebsite.com/media/pacm an_flash/ At least I can take out my frustration on Blinky.
Yom Kippur
2007-09-23 18:19:00 If you didn't know, a lot of people in Highland Park are Jewish. I’m not Jewish myself, but sometimes I feel like I am just because a lot of my good friends are. Anyway, this year I got the brilliant idea that I was gonna fast with my friend, Chudnick, for the holiday of Yom Kippur. It's the holiest day of the year, and Jews fast all day – as a way to cleanse their sins and return to their higher selves. They’re not even allowed to brush their teeth or drink water! Chud has been doing it since he’s 9 and he bet me a $10 gift card on iTunes that I couldn’t make it all the way. (All the way is sundown to sundown.) Friday night, the night before, I actually went to Chud’s family’s house and Mrs. Chudnick made a huge dinner. There was kugel (this kind of noodle pie with raisins in it that was pretty awesome), and gifelte fish (too gross to even describe), and turkey and stuffing and sweet potatoes. I felt like a lead balloon when I was done. Interestingly, Chu...
Waiting for the mail...
2007-09-19 07:19:00 So it's been exactly ten days since my promotion, and as you can see by the time stamp on this blog, the stress of waiting around for my first Mission as a Fixer to come in is starting to get at me. You would think someone with a Clearance level as high as mine could send in a special request to the Dept. of Sleep, get my package of GNS shipped out already, but that would be going over someone's head, which is never a good idea (especially where Sleep is concerned, because the Adminstrator there is supposed to be a little bit...prickly). I mean, when you think about it, ten days is a not that long a time, but when you're checking your Blinker every ten minutes in hopes of seeing something other than "NO INCOMING CALLS," Time tends to slow down a bit. And don't get me wrong, it's not like I'm not hoping something bad will happen in The World or looking to be a hero or anything, I'd just feel a lot better having that first Mission under my belt... In the meantime, I'm clea... More About: Mail , Waiting , Wait
From the desk of F. Becker Drane.
2007-09-12 21:34:00 To: Department of Weather (Attn: Jill Sworez, Director of Sunshine + Clarity) cc: Department of Nature Re: Nice Day Dear Jill: Just a note to thank you for this amazing day! (9/12/07). I'm sure some other Sectors of The World are getting pelted by Huricanes or golf ball sized hail right now (as is the wont of The Plan), but New Jersey is covered in glorious sunshine and crisp. I very much look forward to the upcoming months. When you guys bust out the Occasional Orange for the foliage, it is truly the most resplendent time of the year. Anyway, I know you are very busy during seasonal change (and I also know you've been under a lot of pressure due to these natural disasters that keep happening), but just wanted to let you know that people also notice the good things! Best Regards F. Becker Drane, Fixer #37 P.S. Can you keep this same weather pattern for a few days? I have outdoor plans over the wknd. Thanks. I owe you one. More About: Desk , The D
Classified Missions (and Blogs)
2007-09-10 16:05:00 Just wanted to let you know why so many of the blogs I wrote this summer have been fully or partially marked "CLASSIFIED." Unfortunately, due to the fact that many of the Missi ons I Briefed turned out to be actions/attacks by The Tide (I can?t tell you much more about them right now, either), each entry is currently being vetted by Central Command, to ensure certain details remain in The Dark. However, the Dispatcher himself has assured me that only the most confidential (and potentially Worldwide panic-inducing) details will be edited out, and that I will be given Clearance to post at least some of them in their almost entirety as soon as possible... Take care, and thank you for your patience. More About: Blogs , Classified
We Suck
2007-09-09 23:34:00 Those were the words spoken by my father, a tenured professor at Rutgers University, about our beloved New York Jets and their performance on opening day?and no truer words were spoken. Now I?m gonna have to deal with all the phone calls from my cousins up in New England about how the Patriots are gonna win the Super Bowl again and how I?m going to die never getting to see the Jets even make it there once. Oh well, at least Pedro?s back, and the Mets magic number is only 15. Not to mention the Scarlet Knights are 2-O and looking even better than they did last year. Even better, Dad scored us tickets to the Norfolk State game next weekend, and it?s hard to say what?s going to be a bigger mismatch?our football team vs. theirs, or their marching band vs. ours. If it?s anything like what happened when RU faced off against Howard last Fall (see all the good parts of "Drumline"), it?s gonna be a half-time bloodbath, and no amount of second-half touchdowns will help our band save face... More About: Suck
First Day of School
2007-09-05 17:27:00 Ask yourself this question. If you had an inflatable replica of yourself that no one in The World could ever tell wasn't you which had instant access to the entire history of human knowledge built into its internal software and actually enjoyed things like chemistry, algebra, the Magna Carta and "A Separate Peace" (not to mention the hockey pucks they call hamburgers at Lafayette Middle School ), would you send it to the first day of another school year so you could sleep till noon or catch a matinee or grab a whole #9 at Tastee's or go fishing (not that there's anywhere to fish around here) or do nothing whatseover at all? Honestly, would you? Neither did I. But I have to admit, I thought about it. I'm thinking about it right now, especially since next period, Dr. Kole will undoubtedly find out that I haven't read a single one of his "Best Books Ever" list, and the fact this was because I was busy helping save The World several times is not likely to get me out of the pub...
Open Mike Night
2007-08-31 05:34:00 As some of you may know, I'm a regular at coffeehop in HP called "Chapter One." It's a funky little place where I go to do my homework or read and they even have an all you can eat brunch on Saturday and Sunday mornings were literally eat all I can eat (unless Big Mike is there, and then the rest of us just have to fight it out for the scraps). Most of the time it's a pretty quiet place where you can get a lot done, but every Thursday night Rick the Barista holds an open mike night, when every guy with a guitar in his hand and a song on his lips and their sister comes to pour out their heart. Not that I'm making fun of pouring your heart out...it's just, most of the people who play at open mike night suck, and I mean SUCK. It's like, bro, covering "Lightning Crashes" by Live might have seemed like a good idea down in the basement, but out here in public, it just reminds one of why no one my age knows who Live is in the first place. And nobody loves Neil Young more than me... More About: Open , Night
The Real Best Books Ever (Summer '07)...
More articles from this author:2007-08-20 07:34:00 As Dr. Kole's list remains as of yet unexplored, increasing my anxiety with each passing August day, let me at least give the nod to the best books I actually HAVE read this summer, which are currently piled up on the floor beside my bed in no particular order... 1. "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" by Brian Selznick. Any 500+ page book that you can read in practically one sitting is amazing, but this one rocked in every way. Amazing pics... 2. Steven King's "Night Shift." Found this collection of his early short stories in my Dad's study and against my better judgment, decided to read "The Boogeyman." Still have a hard time falling asleep...and that wasn't even the scariest one in the book (for some reason, "Jerusalem's Lot" got under my skin). But the darkhorse was a called "The Last Rung on the Ladder." Not even a horror story, but something about it made me incredibly sad, and reminded me of how I felt when I found out I was gonna have a brother and not a sister. Not ... More About: Books , Summer , Real 1, 2, 3, 4 |
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